Ocean Shores for an overnight stop? (Seattle, Tacoma: RV parks, appointed, rentals)

[62mike]

I love the coastal towns with great beach access and saw Ocean Shores on the map. On our vacation we will be headed south out of ONP and I thought about an overnight stay at Ocean Shores before heading to Mt. St. Helens. However, I have read some mixed reviews on here about the community.

Our family just wanted a nice beach plus I saw maybe scooter or horse rentals and spend the night in a safe family area.

Is Ocean Shores family friendly for these things? I also saw Ocean Park further south is there any difference in the two? Both seem close enough I could go either way.

Any advice?

Thank you.

[Fat Freddy]

I don't know anything about Ocean Park, but Ocean Shores is family safe and has things that kids like to do such as rent motor scooters or pedal bikes to ride on the beach.

The horse rentals are really horse rides. They lead a bunch of people on horseback up the beach and back. It's like an adult version of pony rides.

The beach is typical for this area. It's flat and hard, but there is a softer dune area. Cars as well as motor scooters run on the beach so keep that in mind if you have small kids who want to dig and play in the surf.

The water is very cold with dangerous rip tides, so don't plan going in much deeper than your knees.

For bigger kids there is a go cart track they can ride on and a game arcade.

There are plenty of places to eat with varying prices and quality of food, and a large supermarket where you can get most anything you want.

For the adults, there are several drinking places and a casino just up the road.

If you plan to stay in a hotel, there are plenty. Some are quite expensive. I wouldn't plan on finding a vacancy especially on a sunny weekend. Reserve in advance.

If you are camping or traveling in an RV, there are a couple of RV parks. They wouldn't make anyone's A-list, but they are a safe place to park with water, electric hookups, toilets and showers.

There is also a state park with similar facilities, but reservations are a good idea there also.

[AlexJones]

Ocean Shores will be littered with trash from the Fourth of July celebration. Grays Harbor County is a ghetto.

[ruralgrl]

I don't know too much about Ocean Shores. I was there once, but not in the summer to know what they offer.....Ocean Park is a very small place north of Long Beach....Long Beach would be a great place to take the family. A lot of fun things to see and do... www.funbeach.com Ocean Park doesn't have a whole lot to offer a family on vacation, but Long Beach does. Ocean Park is about 10 miles north of Long Beach. It would be a short drive. There is a cool park at the end of the spit to wander around on. Personally, I would go to Long Beach!

[70Ford]

http://www.city-data.com/forum/washi...ing-alive.html

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by AlexJones

Ocean Shores will be littered with trash from the Fourth of July celebration. Grays Harbor County is a ghetto.

On the fifth of July, an army of volunteer residents will patrol the beach and pick up the trash that our "guests" left behind.

I'm glad to see the trash picked up, but I don't think the residents should have to do it.
I think the businesses that profit from the invading hoards should have to pay to have it done.

Your use of the word "ghetto" in describing Gray's Harbor County shows that you either don't know what the word means or you don't get out much.

Gray's Harbor is an economically depressed area.

If you want to see ghettos, go to Los Angeles, Detroit, New York City, or any other major city with a large minority population.
There is no city in the state of Washington with "ghettos", although many would say that Seattle and Tacoma are well on the way to developing them.

[AlexJones]

Originally Posted by Fat Freddy

On the fifth of July, an army of volunteer residents will patrol the beach and pick up the trash that our "guests" left behind.

I'm glad to see the trash picked up, but I don't think the residents should have to do it.
I think the businesses that profit from the invading hoards should have to pay to have it done.

Your use of the word "ghetto" in describing Gray's Harbor County shows that you either don't know what the word means or you don't get out much.

Gray's Harbor is an economically depressed area.

If you want to see ghettos, go to Los Angeles, Detroit, New York City, or any other major city with a large minority population.
There is no city in the state of Washington with "ghettos", although many would say that Seattle and Tacoma are well on the way to developing them.

Or go to Aberdeen or Yakima County (i.e. Sunnyside and Yakima).

[bmsea]

We love the beaches in Westport. Nothing fancy, but way fewer visitors than Ocean Shores, and closer than Long Beach.
Westport Washington

[pw72]

I like the smallish hotel/casino in Ocean Shores. Quite nice. Isn't it "Quinault"? Decent restaurant and nicely appointed rooms. Casino is small, compared to the Seattle-area casinos, but friendly.

[nwcountrygal]

Honestly hate Ocean shores but don't have kids... The little Irish pub is the only thing I like, prefer Grayland or up around Klaloch but have my own site that isn't public. Freddy you said something positive for the area. Really had a ocean ride horse rentals but in Ocean shores the horse rentals was horrible (20 years ago),,,,,,,,,and I don'tknow how to spell,,,,,,,,, Ocean shores would be fun for family looking something other than camping spending time together otherwise Longbeach